Brigham
Young
I am so far from believing that any
government upon this earth has constitutions and laws that are perfect, that I
do not even believe that there is a single revelation, among the many God has
given to the Church, that is perfect in its fulness. The revelations of God
contain correct doctrine and principle, so far as they go; but it is impossible
for the poor, weak, low, grovelling, sinful inhabitants of the earth to receive
a revelation from the Almighty in all its perfections. He has to speak to us in
a manner to meet the extent of our capacities, as we have to do with these benighted
Lamanites; it would be of no benefit to talk to them as I am now speaking to
you. Before you can enter into conversation with them and give them your ideas,
you are under the necessity of condescending to their low estate, so far as
communication is concerned, in order to exalt them. You have to use the words
they use, and address them in a manner to meet their capacities, in order to
give them the knowledge you have to bestow. If an angel should come into this
congregation, or visit any individual of it, and use the language he uses in
heaven, what would we be benefitted? Not any, because we could not understand a
word he said. When angels come to visit mortals, they have to condescend to and
assume, more or less, the condition of mortals, they have to descend to our
capacities in order to communicate with us. I make these remarks to show you
that the kingdom of heaven is not yet complete upon the earth. Why? Because the
people are not prepared to receive it in its completeness, for they are not complete
or perfect themselves. The laws that the Lord has given are not fully perfect,
because the people could not receive them in their perfect fulness; but they
can receive a little here and a little there, a little to-day and a little
to-morrow, a little more next week, and a little more in advance of that next
year, if they make a wise improvement upon every little they receive; if they
do not, they are left in the shade, and the light which the Lord reveals will
appear darkness to them, and the kingdom of heaven will travel on and leave
them groping. Hence, if we wish to act upon the fulness of the knowledge that
the Lord designs to reveal, little by little, to the inhabitants of the earth,
we must improve upon every little as it is revealed. (JOD 2:314 | July 8, 1855)
Orson
Pratt
To say that there will be a stated time, in
the history of this Church, during its imperfections and weakness, when the
organization will be perfect, and that there will be no further extension or
addition to the organization would be a mistake. Organization is to go on, step
after step from one degree to another, just as the people increase and grow in
knowledge of the principles and laws of the kingdom of God. (JOD 19:12 | May
20, 1877)
One should compare the above with the following from the Doctrine and
Covenants:
Behold, I am God and
have spoken it; these commandments are of me, and were given unto my servants
in their weakness, after the manner of their language, that they might come to
understanding. (D&C 1:24)
Your eyes have been
upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and his language you have known, and his
imperfections you have known; and you have sought in your hearts knowledge that
you might express beyond his language; this you also know. (D&C 67:5)